Police briefs: Soledad inmate's death possible homicide

The death of an inmate at the Correctional Training Facility is being investigated as a homicide, the prison said Thursday in a news release.

Rick Stockton, 52, was pronounced dead Sunday at an outside hospital, where he was taken after being found unresponsive in a restroom.

Stockton began serving his 25-years-to-life sentence in 1999 for vehicle theft, possession of a deadly weapon, grand theft, robbery and forgery out of El Dorado County.

SALINAS

Passerby chases purse snatcher

A person responding to a call for help chased a purse-snatcher about 1:25 p.m. Thursday, police said. The purse was recovered but the robber got away.

The 27-year-old woman was walking to work near Buckhorn and Rider avenues when she noticed a man following her.

The man grabbed her purse, knocked her to the ground and ran off toward Saguaro Drive and Mescal Court.

The person responding to her call for help lost sight of the robber near Madrone Drive.

The woman wasn't hurt and her property was returned.

CHUALAR

Five people injured in two accidents

Firefighters from the Monterey County Regional Fire District responded to two injury accidents on Thursday.

The first accident occurred about 2:50 p.m. on Highway 101 just south of Chualar. It involved five vehicles, firefighters said. Four people were taken to the hospital with minor injuries. Firefighters said rain and construction may have been factors.

The second accident occurred about 5:30 p.m. near Old Stage and Alisal roads when a driver failed to stop for cars in front of him, locked up his brakes and slide sideways into the back of a truck and into a ditch, firefighters said.

The driver was taken to the hospital with moderate to major injuries.

SALINAS

Gunfire sprays home; no one hit

Police say someone fired shots late Wednesday into a residence in the 1200 block of Nogal Drive.

Two adults were watching television inside when shots hit the home about 9:20 p.m., police said. The occupants weren't hurt.

A white compact car was seen leaving the area. Officers stopped a car matching the description a short time later.

But officers said they didn't know if the vehicle was involved in the shooting.